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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
I really liked this entree into the Pendergast series. This was more procedural than it has been in a while. I did like Coldmoon as a foil for Pendergast. Sometimes, the introduction of a new character can be dicey but this one worked. And, Smithback; I was so glad to see that character come back in its way. Can’t wait for the next one.
I love these guys but this wasn’t my favorite book. It’s more a straight mystery which is good.
Preston and Child hit the ground running once again in their most consistent series. The last act didn’t hold up entirely as I would have liked but it did not disappoint either. The action was nice, the mystery and plot interesting, although I would have liked more of the agent’s special interrogation techniques. Pendergast is, as ever, aloof and charming, however. His new partner, Coldmoon is a strong character and a decent foil, regardless of some questionably “Native American” cultural detail. The Florida location is vividly realized, serving as both a nice change of pace and an alien environment all its own. The series has remained remarkably strong over the years and the last few years have shown the authors getting a bit of their groove back. While, I might have liked a little more detail and plot, Verses For the Dead was a quick and thrilling read was a welcome entry in an exciting series.
If the previous book brought Pendergast back to what made him so amazing in the first place, this one was even better, partly because I was not thrilled by him being partnered with someone that was not D'Agosta, and was therefore skeptical about what this would be like. So I was pleasantly surprised when I decided I liked Coldmoon, and I really liked learning about his Lakota roots. Coincidentally, I've been alternating the Krueger Cork O'Connor series with this one, and for anyone familiar with that series, you learn much about the Ojibwe and their culture and practices, so Coldmoon ended up being someone I was likely poised to like, down to the swill that he called coffee, hee hee. The mystery and suspense were both very well constructed and I enjoyed figuring out some aspects of the crime while being kept in suspense (or whiplash) with other aspects. I'm really hoping I see more of Coldmoon but time will tell how much of a role he plays in future books.
Good story, but it was pure mystery/thriller with none of the weird, semi-supernatural stuff that makes me particularly fond of this series. I really liked Coldmoon. I wouldn't mind having him become a regular, even if the conclusion seems to suggest he will not.
Some of the Pendergast novels went a bit off the rails with Constance and Diogenes, but City of Endless Night and Verses for the Dead are more classic investigative police mysteries. And I like Pendergast’s new partner Coldmoon.
Generally P&C books are very good or very bad. This one bucks the trend by being utterly mediocre and forgettable.
New locale, new characters, none particularly fleshed out. A pretty standard serial killer book, albeit with a fairly surprising finish?
In 3 months I will remember absolutely nothing about this book.
New locale, new characters, none particularly fleshed out. A pretty standard serial killer book, albeit with a fairly surprising finish?
In 3 months I will remember absolutely nothing about this book.
Always a pleasure to escape into one of Agent Pendergast’s mysteries. Not the best of this series but I liked the addition of a new partner. Relic, Reliquary, and Cabinet of Curiosities will always be my favorites.